Geometric Data Analysis in a sociological research program The case of Bourdieus sociology...

Geometric Data Analysis in a Geometric Data Analysis in a sociological research sociological research

programprogramThe case of Bourdieu’s sociologyThe case of Bourdieu’s sociology

Frédéric Lebaron Frédéric Lebaron (CURAPP CNRS-UPJV, IUF)(CURAPP CNRS-UPJV, IUF)

[email protected]@u-picardie.fr

Symposium Apprentissage et Science Symposium Apprentissage et Science des Données - SLDSdes Données - SLDS

3 Avril 20093 Avril 2009Université Paris-DauphineUniversité Paris-Dauphine

IntroductionIntroduction

• Bourdieu and “quantification” : a lifelong Bourdieu and “quantification” : a lifelong commitment.commitment.

• « I use Correspondence Analysis very much, « I use Correspondence Analysis very much, because I think that it is essentially a because I think that it is essentially a relational procedure whose philosophy fully relational procedure whose philosophy fully expresses what in my view constitutes social expresses what in my view constitutes social reality. It is a procedure that ‘thinks’ in reality. It is a procedure that ‘thinks’ in relations, as I try to do it with the concept of relations, as I try to do it with the concept of field » (Preface of the German edition of field » (Preface of the German edition of Le Le métier de sociologuemétier de sociologue).).

• GDA : a conscious and systematic choice.GDA : a conscious and systematic choice.

Symposium Apprentissage et Science des Données – SLDS – 3 avril 2009 – Paris Dauphine

Frédéric Lebaron (CURAPP, IUF) [email protected]

IntroductionIntroduction

1. 1. Bourdieu and ‘‘stats’’Bourdieu and ‘‘stats’’

2. From Multidimensionality to Geometry2. From Multidimensionality to Geometry

3. Investigating fields 3. Investigating fields

4. Towards a sociological research program4. Towards a sociological research program



1. Bourdieu and « stats »1. Bourdieu and « stats »

• Algeria (1956-1960) : systematic use of Algeria (1956-1960) : systematic use of statistical data.statistical data.

• Survey research at the Centre de sociologie Survey research at the Centre de sociologie européenne.européenne.

• Bourdieu, structuralism and maths.Bourdieu, structuralism and maths.

• The shortcomings of mainstream The shortcomings of mainstream approaches.approaches.



1. 1. Bourdieu and « stats »Bourdieu and « stats »

« The particular relations between a « The particular relations between a dependent variable (political opinion) and dependent variable (political opinion) and so-called independent variables such as so-called independent variables such as sex, age and religion, tend to dissimulate sex, age and religion, tend to dissimulate the complete system of relations that make the complete system of relations that make up the true principle of the force and form up the true principle of the force and form specific to the effects recorded in such and specific to the effects recorded in such and such particular correlation » (Bourdieu, such particular correlation » (Bourdieu, 1979, p. 103).1979, p. 103).



2. From multidimensionality to 2. From multidimensionality to geometrygeometry

• The diversity of social resources: cultural, The diversity of social resources: cultural, economic, social (personal relations) and economic, social (personal relations) and symbolic.symbolic.

• Provide a geometric model of the data.Provide a geometric model of the data.• « « L’anatomie du goût », P.Bourdieu and M. L’anatomie du goût », P.Bourdieu and M.

de Saint-Martin, de Saint-Martin, Actes de la recherche en Actes de la recherche en Sc. Soc.Sc. Soc., 1976., 1976.

• H.Rouanet & col., “The geometric analysis H.Rouanet & col., “The geometric analysis of questionnaires. The Lesson of Pierre of questionnaires. The Lesson of Pierre Bourdieu’s La distinction”, Bourdieu’s La distinction”, Bulletin de Bulletin de méthodologie sociologiqueméthodologie sociologique, 2000., 2000.

2. From multidimensionality to 2. From multidimensionality to geometrygeometry

Main elements of the geometric data Main elements of the geometric data modelling : modelling :

• Individuals X Variables tables.Individuals X Variables tables.

• Construction of a relevant distance by the Construction of a relevant distance by the choice of active variables.choice of active variables.

• The space of individuals as central tool for The space of individuals as central tool for describing social reality.describing social reality.

• Study of sub-clouds of individuals.Study of sub-clouds of individuals.

• Homology between the space of lifestyles Homology between the space of lifestyles and the space of social positions.and the space of social positions.Symposium Apprentissage et Science des Données – SLDS – 3 avril 2009 – Paris Dauphine


3. Investigating fields3. Investigating fields

• Geometric modelling of data as instrument Geometric modelling of data as instrument of synthesis and representation of the fields.of synthesis and representation of the fields.

• In the middle of the 1960s, formulation of In the middle of the 1960s, formulation of the concept of « field » (first article 1966).the concept of « field » (first article 1966).

• The « geometric data modelling » as a way The « geometric data modelling » as a way to combine statistical analysis and the notion to combine statistical analysis and the notion of field : « Those who know the principles of of field : « Those who know the principles of MCA will grasp the affinities between this MCA will grasp the affinities between this method of mathematical analysis and the method of mathematical analysis and the thinking in terms of field » (Bourdieu, 2001, thinking in terms of field » (Bourdieu, 2001, p.70).p.70).




• From survey data to prosopographical From survey data to prosopographical (collective biographical) data.(collective biographical) data.

• P.Bourdieu and M. de Saint-Martin, P.Bourdieu and M. de Saint-Martin, « Le patronat », « Le patronat », Actes de la rech. Sc. Actes de la rech. Sc. SocSoc. (1978).. (1978).




• Multiple Correspondence Analysis. Multiple Correspondence Analysis. Individuals X Variables Table. Individuals X Variables Table.

• Choice of active modalities (biographical Choice of active modalities (biographical data) :data) :Demographic properties ; social and familial origin ; Demographic properties ; social and familial origin ; educational trajectory ; career ; specific positions in educational trajectory ; career ; specific positions in the field ; indicators of symbolic capital.the field ; indicators of symbolic capital.

• Study of the cloud of individuals with Study of the cloud of individuals with names.names.

• Explanatory perspective : to understand the Explanatory perspective : to understand the strategies of managers in relation to their strategies of managers in relation to their positions in the field.positions in the field.




• A systematic investigation of various fields: A systematic investigation of various fields: Homo Academicus (1984), field of real Homo Academicus (1984), field of real estate companies (1990), field of publishers estate companies (1990), field of publishers (1999).(1999).

• A collective enterpriseA collective enterprise..

Ex : Hjellbrekke J., Le Roux B., Korsnes O., Ex : Hjellbrekke J., Le Roux B., Korsnes O., Lebaron F., Rosenlund L., Rouanet H., Lebaron F., Rosenlund L., Rouanet H., “The “The Norwegian Field of Power Anno 2000”, Norwegian Field of Power Anno 2000”, European Societies, 9(2), 2007, p.245-273. European Societies, 9(2), 2007, p.245-273.



4. A sociological research program 4. A sociological research program

• Infer a general research program from the Infer a general research program from the practice.practice.

• « « Une révolution conservatrice dans l’éditionUne révolution conservatrice dans l’édition » », , P.Bourdieu, P.Bourdieu, Actes de la rech. Sc. SocActes de la rech. Sc. Soc., 1999.., 1999.

• Last use of GDA by Bourdieu (in coll. with Last use of GDA by Bourdieu (in coll. with Brigitte Le Roux and Henry Rouanet).Brigitte Le Roux and Henry Rouanet).

• Specific MCA.Specific MCA.

• Indicators of capital (symbolic capital, economic Indicators of capital (symbolic capital, economic capital, specific properties) as active variables.capital, specific properties) as active variables.

• Euclidean Classification.Euclidean Classification.



4. A sociological research program4. A sociological research program

• Describe the field as a constraining structure, Describe the field as a constraining structure, with growing economic power positions.with growing economic power positions.

• Assess the relations between positions and Assess the relations between positions and position-takings - strategies, editorial position-takings - strategies, editorial decisions.decisions.

• Interpret the dynamics of the field, using MCA Interpret the dynamics of the field, using MCA and Euclidean Classification : concentration and Euclidean Classification : concentration dynamics, forms of competition.dynamics, forms of competition.



4. A sociological research program4. A sociological research program

From statistical to sociological interpretationsFrom statistical to sociological interpretations

- To show the structure of fieldsTo show the structure of fields

- To study structural homologies between fieldsTo study structural homologies between fields

- To assess the relative autonomy of a fieldTo assess the relative autonomy of a field

- To study sub-fields inside a global structureTo study sub-fields inside a global structure

- To explain sociological practicesTo explain sociological practices

- To assess the importance of field effects To assess the importance of field effects

- To study the dynamics of a fieldTo study the dynamics of a field



ConclusionConclusion

Having taken into account all the efficient Having taken into account all the efficient agents (individuals and, through them, agents (individuals and, through them, institutions) and all the properties – or assets institutions) and all the properties – or assets – which are at the core of such efficient – which are at the core of such efficient action, one may expect from Correspondence action, one may expect from Correspondence Analysis, which, Analysis, which, thus used, has nothing to do thus used, has nothing to do with the purely descriptive analysis method with the purely descriptive analysis method questioned by those who oppose it to questioned by those who oppose it to regression analysis, regression analysis, to reveal the structure of to reveal the structure of oppositions, or, which amounts to the same, oppositions, or, which amounts to the same, the distribution structure of powers and the distribution structure of powers and specific interests which underlines, and specific interests which underlines, and explainsexplains,, the strategies of agents (P. the strategies of agents (P. Bourdieu, Bourdieu, Les structures sociales de Les structures sociales de l’économie, l’économie, p. 128).p. 128).



Geometric Data Analysis in a sociological research program The case of Bourdieus sociology...

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